Lifting device for lifting a patient treated in a bathtub



July 29, 1969 M. VON ARDENNE ET AL LIFTING DEVICE FOR LIFTING A PATIENT TREATED IN A BATHTUB Filed Feb. 1, 1967 IN VEN TORS 77% Wag 77a ATTORNEYS 3,457,569 LIFTING DEVICE FOR LIFIING A PATENT TREATED IN A BATHTUB 1 Manfred Von Ardenne, 7 Zeppelinstrasse; and Jurgen Heller, 3 Leonhardistrasse, both of 8051 Dresden, Germany; Gerhard Jiiger, 161 Kipsdorfer Str. 8021 Dresden, Germany; and Heinz Rumberg, 5 Grtterseestre. 821 Freital-Birkigt, Germany Filed Feb. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 613,185 Int. Cl. A471: 3/12 US. Cl. 4-185 7 Ciaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mobile undercarriage for a lifting device, which rolls to position under a bathtub for lifting a patient in a prone position on a litter which is movably supported on the undercarriage for movement down into and up out of the bathtub. A partition mounted on the litter extends between its Sides for dividing the bathtub into a head chamber and a body chamber.

Background of the invention Field of the i/1veIzIi0n.The present invention relates to a lifting device for lifting a patient treated in a bathtub. More particularly, the invention relates to a lifting device for lifting a patient treated by an extreme hyperthermic process for a malignancy in an extreme hypothermic two-chamber bathtub.

Summary of the invention-The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved lifting device for lifting a patient treated in a two-chamber bathtub. The lifting device of the'present invention is operated with simplicity, facility and rapidity by the operator or by the patient. The lifting device of the present invention provides a maximum degree of safety for the patient supported thereby, especially in an emergency. In an emergency, the lifting device may be operated to lift the patient out of the bathtub with great rapidity to a level above said bathtub where he is readily accessible and may be treated medically.

In accordance with the present invention, a lifting device for selectively lowering a patient into and raising the patient out of a bathtub comprises a mobile undercarriage adapted to fit under the bathtub. A litter supports the patient in a prone position. The litter has spaced sides. A litter support mounted on the undercarriage movably supports the litter for movement down into and up out of the bathtub. A partition is mounted on the litter and extends between the sides thereof for dividing the bathtub into a head chamber and a body chamber. A pair of tapered recesses are formed in the inside surfaces of the sides of the bathtub. The partition comprises a pair of spaced frame members mounted on the sides of the litter in substantially parallel relation. A tapered side plate is afl'ixed to the outside side surface of each of the frame members and is adapted to fit in the corresponding tapered recess formed in the bathtub. Waterproof packing is affixed to each of the side plates. A waterproof partition is affixed to and extends between the frame members and has a hole formed therethrough in the lower area of the patients neck.

A motor is mounted on the undercarriage and is conpied to the litter for selectively moving the litter up and down. A pair of spaced bores is formed in the undersurface of the bathtub. A locking device mounted on the undercarriage comprises a pair of spaced prongs selec tively movable into and out of the bores. The litter comprises a plurality of spaced waterproof strips affixed to and extending transversely between the sides of the litter for suporting the patient, or a waterproof web of waterproof, perforated, resilient material afiixed to and extending transversely between the sides of the litter. Control apparatus mounted on the undercarriage and the litter is coupled to each of the motor and the locking device for controlling the movement of the litter and the operation of the locking device. The control apparatus comprises a plurality of foot pedals mounted on the undercarriage and a plurality of manually operable switches mounted on the litter. Electromagnetic apparatus is coupled to and controlled by the control apparatus and oper ates the motor with great rapidity to raise the litter.

Brief description of the drawing In order that the present invention may be readily carried into eflect, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the lifting device of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1'.

Description of. the preferred embodiment In the figures, the two-chamber bathtub 1, which may comprise an extreme hyperthermic two-chamber bathtub for treating-a malignancy by an extreme hyperthermic process, is shown in outline by a broken line. The lifting device is shown in solid lines.

The lifting device comprises an undercarriage 2 which is movable on wheels or rollers 3 sothat it is completely mobile and may be controlled in its direction of travel. The undercarriage 2 fits under the bathtub 1, as shown in FIG. 2. A pair of spaced guide posts or columns 4 are mounted on the undercarriage 2 in substantially parallel relation to each other and substantially perpendicularly to said undercarriage. Each of the guide posts 4 is reinforced by a reinforcing member 5.

A litter 6, on which the patient rests in prone position,-

is movably supported on the guide posts 4 for movement down, into the bathtub 1, and up, out of said bathtub. The litter 6 is moved up and down by a suitable motor or drive 7 such as, for example, an electric, clect'rohydraulic, hydraulic or pneumaticmotor or driving arrangement, suitably coupled to said litter and mounted on the undercarriage 2.

A foot pedal control arrangement 8, comprising a plurality of foot pedals, is mounted on the undercarriage 2 and is mechanically coupled to the motor 7 and to a locking device 9 mounted on said undercarriage. The locking device 9 comprises a pair of spaced bolts or prongs extending substantially perpendicularly upward from the undercarriage 2 in substantially parallel relation to each other. The bolts or prongs of the locking device 9 are electively moved up, into corresponding grooves, bores, holes or apertures formed in the undersurface of the bathtub 1, and down, out of said bores, under the control of one of the foot pedals of the foot pedal control arrangement 8. When the bolts or prongs of the locking device 9 are moved up, into their corresponding apertures, the

lifting device is locked in position with the bath tub I.

' The litter 6 comprises a first pair of upper, spaced, formed substantially parallel support members, bars or tubes 10a mounted at one end on the support posts 4 for movement thereon and a second pair of lower, spaced, formed substantially parallel support members, bars or tubes 10b mounted at the other end of said support posts for movement thereon. The support members of the first pair may be joined to the corresponding support members of the second pair of a pair of plates 11. The support members and the plates may comprise metal such as, for example, aluminum, and may be joined by any suitable means such as, for example, welding.

The litter 6 includes a pair of spaced arm rests 12 suitably mounted on the sides of said litter so that they are adjustable in angle and length, and are also laterally movable toward and away from each other. Suitable securing means such as, for example, straps or belts 13a and 13/: are atfixed to the litter 6 for securing the patient to said litter. An adjustable foot rest 14 is mounted on the litter 6 at the end where the patients feet rest and an adjustable head rest 15 is mounted on said litter at the end where the patients head rests.

A web or plurality of spaced, substantially parallel waterproof strips, straps, or the like 16, are supported'bctween the support members 10a of the litter 6 in transverse relation with said support members. The strips 16 may be interconnected by additional strips (not shown in the figures) between them extending substantially parallel to the support members 100. The strips 16 are removably affixed to their supporting support members 100, so that they may be replaced if necessary, and are sufficiently resilient and sufiiciently closely spaced from each other to provide a comfortable bed for the patient. The strips 16 may be replaced, by, or utilized with, resilient or cushioned mat or sheet of waterproof material, which may be perforated.

A metal frame, comprising a pair of spaced frame members 17a and 17b, is mounted in spaced, substantially parallel relation on the sides of the litter 6 and extend substantially perpendicularly up from said litter. A tapered or wedge-shapcd side plate 181: is afiixed to the outside surface of the frame member [7a. A waterproof gasket or packing 19a is affixed tov the side plate 180 and to the junction of the frame member 170 and said side Plate. A tapered or wedge-shaped side plate 18b is affixed to the outside side surface of the frame member 17b. A waterproof gasket or packing 19b is afiixed to the side plate 18h and to the junction of the frame member 17b and said side plate. The gaskets 19a and 1% may be afiixed to the corresponding side plates 18a and 18b by any suitable means such as, for example, adhesive or glue.

A waterproof partition 20 is afiixed in the metal frame and is fastened to and extends between the frame mem- .in the inside surface of each side of the bathtub 1 in positions wherein, as the litter 6 is moved down into said bathtub,.the side plates 18a and 1811 move down with said litter and fit into the corresponding recesses. A hand rail 22 is affixed to the undercarriage 2 of the lifting device and enables the operator to move and control the direction of movement of said lifting device with facility and convenience.

The foot pedal control arrangement 8 is mechanically coupled to the motor 7 and to the locking device 9, as hereinbefore indicated. The coupling linkages between the foot pedals of the foot pedal arrangement 8 and the motor 7 and the locking device 9 are not shown in the figures. The coupling linkages are mechanically coupled to a manual control arrangement 23 comprising a plurality of push buttons mounted on the litter 6 within reach of the patient. The push buttons of the manual control arrangement 23 control the locking device 9 and control the movement of the litter 6 up and down via the motor 7, in the same manner as the foot pedals of the foot pedal control arrangement 8 to the coupling linkages of which said push buttons are coupled. The patient resting on the litter 6, as well as the operator, is thus able to control the raising and lowering of said litter.

Art electromagnetic device such as, for example, a relay and an energizing electrical power source, not shown in the figures, is coupled to and controlled by the foot pedal control arrangement 8 and the manual control arrangement 23 for operating the motor 7 with great rapidity and at great speed to raise the litter 6 very rapidly and is therefore utilized in an emergency to lift the patient out of the bathtub in a very short time.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific example and in a specific embodiment, we do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:.

1. A lifting device for selectively lowering a patient into and raising said patient out of a bathtub for extreme hyperthermic medical process, said lifting device comprising a mobile undercarriage adapted to fit under said bathtub; a litter for supporting said patient in a prone position, said litter having spaced sides; little supporting means mounted on said undercarriage and movably supporting said litter at one end of said litter for movement down into and up out of said bathtub; moving means mounted on said undercarriage and coupled to said litter for selectively moving said litter up and down; a pair of tapered recesses formed in the inside surfaces of the sides of said bathtub; and partition means mounted on said litter and extending between the sides thereof for dividing said bathtub into a head chamber and body chamber, said partition means comprising a pair of spaced frame members mounted on the sides of said litter in substantially parallel relation. a tapered side plate afiixed to the outside surface of each of said frame members and adapted to fit in the corresponding tapered recess formed in said bathtub and waterproof packing means affixed to each said side plates, and a waterproof partition affixed to and extending between said frame members and having a hole formed therethrough in the lower area for the patients neck.

2. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of spaced bores formed in the undersurface of said bathtub, and a locking device mounted on said undercarriage comprising a pair of spaced prongs selectively movable into and out of said bores.

3. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said litter comprises a plurality of spaced waterproof strips afiixed to and extending transversely between the sides of said litter for supporting the patient.

4. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said litter comprises a waterproof web of waterproof, perforated, resilient material affixed to and extending transverscly between the sides of said litter for supporting the patient.

5. A lifting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of foot pedal controls mounted on said undercarriage and coupled to said moving means for controlling the movement of said litter outside said bathtub and a plurality of manually operable switches mounted on said litter for controlling the movement of said litter inlo and out of said bathtub.

6. A lifting device as claimed in claim I, wherein said moving means comprises a prime mover from the group of prime movers consisting of electric, elect'ro-hydraulic, hydraulic and pneumatic motors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lowery 292173 Corwin 4185 Scroggin 4185 Hunting 4185 Nielsen 4185 Strong 21410.5 McQuoWn 4185 Schoneber-g 4160 11/1959 Desbois 214-105 6/1962 Baker 214620 7/1963 Hastings 187-9 8/1965 Lundberg 4-185 11/1965 Mann 5-66 3/1966 Joyce et al. 187-9 8/1966 Constable 1879 10/ 1966 Smiley et .al 5-66 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1903 Great Britain.

6/ 1914 France.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 15 D. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

